The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

24. The Domino Effect

SIRIUS

"Sirius?!" Reggie snaps his fingers in my face, bringing me back.

You can hardly blame me. This girl I've learned to love like a sister over the past few months passed out on me, with her blood everywhere, the pool of it seeming to widen with every second, "Yeah?"

"You've got take her to the wing," he grabs my hand, "I'll tell Dumbledore."

And he's off.
Just like that.
Miriam is screaming behind me in Mar's arms, somehow giving me strength to take Novak and lift her, "C'mon Lin. Reggie's good with charms, just stay with me."

It's like she's weightless as I start for a sprint towards the wing, confusing the Hell out of passers by, "Get out of the way!"

I don't really remember much of the run, but by the time I kick open the hospital wing door, I'm out of breath. Pomfrey rushes over, "Mr Black!-"

"There was a duel and she-she- just help please!"

"Put her there." She points to a bed, and I lie Novak on it, "Now get out."

"What?"

"You can't be here Mr Black." She begins to rummage through some potions on the bedside table.

"I never heard the curse before." I say as I leave. She wouldn't want me to leave Miriam.

*

MARLENE

"She'll be fine." It's the millionth time I've said this since Sirius left, and a little part of me thinks that if I say it enough times, it'll come true.

"It's m-my fault!" Mim cries harder into my cloak, her whole body shaking violently.

"It's not." I try to calm her, but it only makes her worse.

"I-I told her I d-didn't want her t-to be my sister."

"You didn't mean it."

"She doesn't know that!"

"Miriam-"

"Headmaster, I don't know where he went I swear, I was helping my brother and-" Regulus Black's voice echoes down the hall, causing me to look back. He's trailing behind the headmaster, who has his wand in his hand.

"That's quite alright Mr Black, you've done very well." The Professor doesn't even look back, the usual gleam in his eyes replaced with something bordering on determination and fury, "Miss McKinnon, would you be so kind as to take Miss Novak to your head of house?"

"I- yes professor. Come on Mim." Just as we get into our feet, I hear the screech of shoes on tile before Sirius, in all of his erratic fury, skids around the corner.

"That vile snivelling fucker! Where is-" Sirius storms in, cut off by the sight of Dumbledore, "Sir."

The professor looks almost amused, "Creative language that I will pretend I didn't hear Mr Black."

"I'm so sorry Professor I didn't-" he begins, and if the situation were different, I'd have burst into laughter.

"It is very much alright, your brother has explained the situation, that Mr Snape used a spell of his own making during a duel without fully knowing the affects."

"Without fully knowing?!" Sirius screams, "He probably knew full well! Tried to kill her sister!"

He points to Miriam, and I send him glare, "Sirius. That is enough."

"You saw what happened Mar! You know why he did it!"

"Sirius!"

Dumbledore remains calm, holding up his hand before Sirius can report back, "Mr Black, please inform Miss Evans, I believe that she has a right to know. And McKinnon..."

I meet his eyes, "Yes sir."

"Take Miss Novak to Professor McGonagall."

"Yes sir."

*

REMUS

"Can't you just stop." I sigh, watching her from the common room table.

"Stop what?" She flicks a stray red strand out of her face.

"Bloody pacing."

"Not until we come up with the answer to this stupid problem." She huffs. The problem in question is our prefect duties, which includes somehow preventing Myrtle from flooding the toilets.
Again.

"Have you tried talking to her?" I ask, immediately regretting it.

"Oh yeah, she just loves company doesn't she?" The sarcasm is dripping from her tone, "You're such a genius Moony."

"Careful, you're almost as red as your hair." I smirk, leaning back into my chair. She's about to retort or maybe even throw something at me when the door to the common room swings open, "Pads?"

"It's Novak." He leans against the wall, catching his breath.

The blood on him catches my eye, "What happened?"

"Big duel with Snape... he did something, I dunno what."

"What?" It's like he punched me right in my chest, "What d'you mean he did something?"

"She's in the hospital wing."

There's this lurch in my stomach, a feeling a thousand times worse than my transformations, like I've been dropped suddenly. Lily still hasn't processed it, or rather refusing, but my body's already taken over, and I'm running faster than I ever think I have out of the common room and towards the wing.
The corridors are familiar to me, I've walked this path a thousand times, but now every hurried something step feels cold.

"Mr Lupin! What is this unruly behaviour!-" Pomfrey starts, storming out from behind a screen.

"Is she alright?!" I choke on tears that threaten to spill. I feel like throwing up at the sight of her blood-stained apron.

"Taken a heavy hit." She sighs with the realisation for the reason of my actions.

"She's alive? She won't d-"

She didn't answer, out maybe she doesn't want to hear, and rushes back to the bed behind the screen, "Once I get her blood pressure under control, we'll have to start on the cuts. Mr Black's spellwork wasn't enough to stop the bleeding."

I'm left standing there, while body numb with fear, but mind racing to imagine the worst scenarios and outcomes.

"Remus!" Lily arrives not long after, grabbing my elbow, wrenching me away from the sight of the drawn curtain, " What... what-"

"Alive." I croak, letting the girl crumple into my arms, trying to comfort her as sobs rack her small frame.

And in this turmoil I think the words I never thought I'd admit: I love her far too much than I deserve.